GEBED IEDERE DAG

Memory of the Church
Woord van god elke dag
Libretto DEL GIORNO
Memory of the Church
Thursday, May 13


Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I am the good shepherd,
my sheep listen to my voice,
and they become
one flock and one fold.
.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John 16,16-20

In a short time you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again. Then some of his disciples said to one another, 'What does he mean, "In a short time you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again," and, "I am going to the Father"? What is this "short time"? We don't know what he means.' Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, so he said, 'You are asking one another what I meant by saying, "In a short time you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again." 'In all truth I tell you, you will be weeping and wailing while the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

"A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me." With these intentionally enigmatic words, Jesus probably alluded to his death (the departure) and his resurrection (the return), which would occur shortly thereafter. The disciples, however, struggled to understand this mystery. Jesus had tried to tell them three times. And each time he had to realize their distance. Jesus wants to share with them the hour that is about to live in every way. But the disciples are distant from his heart and his thoughts. It is an experience that we know well: how many times we do not understand the Gospel because we are too focused on ourselves! In reporting these words, the evangelist extends their meaning also to the following Christian experience which will be marked by the pain of the disciples for the persecution they will have to suffer, while they see the euphoria of their enemies for their pain. But there comes the joy of God's intervention that frees them from evil. The evangelist's insistence in reporting the term "little while" (repeated seven times in four verses) suggests that the Lord does not delay in intervening to help the disciples. Jesus sees the disciples discussing what he had said and intervenes, without answering their questions, saying: "You will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice: you will have pain, but your pan will change into joy." Jesus, who on that evening had the future of the Church before his eyes, in a little while will pray to the Father for them and for those who will believe in their word (Jn 17:20) and he reassures them that he will soon come to their aid and their sadness will be changed into joy. It is the mystery of the Christian life as the struggle between good and evil that we share. Jesus reassures us: with his victory he will give us joy.

WOORD VAN GOD ELKE DAG: DE KALENDER

Het gebed is het hart van het leven van de Gemeenschap van Sant’Egidio. Het is haar eerste “werk”. Aan het einde van de dag komt elke Gemeenschap, of die nu klein of groot is, samen bij de Heer om het Woord te beluisteren en zich tot Hem te richten in het gebed. De leerlingen kunnen niet anders dan aan de voeten van Jezus zitten, zoals Maria van Bethanië, om het “betere deel” te kiezen (Lc 10, 42) en van Hem zijn gezindheid te leren (vgl. Fil 2, 5).

Elke keer dat de Gemeenschap zich tot de Heer richt, maakt ze zich die vraag eigen van de anonieme leerling: “Heer, leer ons bidden!” (Lc 11, 1). En Jezus, meester in het gebed, antwoordt: “Wanneer jullie bidden, zeg dan: Abba, Vader”.

Wanneer we bidden, ook in de geslotenheid van ons eigen hart, zijn we nooit alleen of verweesd. Integendeel, we zijn leden van de familie van de Heer. In het gemeenschappelijk gebed wordt naast het mysterie van het kindschap, ook dat van de broederschap en zusterschap duidelijk.

De Gemeenschappen van Sant’Egidio, verspreid over de wereld, verzamelen zich op de verschillende plaatsen die gekozen zijn voor het gebed en brengen de hoop en het verdriet van de “uitgeputte en hulpeloze mensenmenigte” waarover het Evangelie spreekt (Mt 9, 37) bij de Heer. Deze oude menigte omvat de inwoners van onze hedendaagse steden, de armen die zich bevinden in de marge van het leven, en iedereen die wacht om als dagloner te worden aangenomen (vgl. Mt 20).

Het gemeenschappelijk gebed verzamelt de schreeuw, de hoop, het verlangen naar vrede, genezing, zin en redding, die beleefd worden door de mannen en vrouwen van deze wereld. Het gebed is nooit leeg. Het stijgt onophoudelijk op naar de Heer opdat verdriet verandert in vreugde, wanhoop in blijheid, angst in hoop, eenzaamheid in gemeenschap. En het rijk Gods zal spoedig temidden van de mensen komen.

WOORD VAN GOD ELKE DAG: DE KALENDER